2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Managing conductive hearing loss in the EHDI world | 320
Managing conductive hearing loss in the EHDI world
According to the 2019 JCIH Position Statement, the goal of EHDI is “to assure that all infants are identified as early as possible, and appropriate intervention initiated, no later than 3-6 months of age.” For some of those infants who fail newborn hearing screening in the hospital, the audiologist will diagnose a conductive hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs in either the outer ear and/or middle ear, but not in the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss may be temporary, permanent, fluctuating or stable. Typically, the infant’s primary care provider will make referrals to otolaryngologist for medical management of the underlying issue causing the conductive hearing. In many cases, the otolaryngologist will provide the family with medical recommendations (i.e intervention options) to treat the conductive hearing loss.
In the EHDI world, the goal of 1-3-6 may be difficult to achieve when managing conductive hearing loss in infants. In this presentation, we will discuss the challenges of conductive hearing loss diagnosis for infant population and how counseling families about this type of hearing loss. Next, we will discuss some of the barriers to achieving the 1-3-6 goals with infants who are diagnosed with conductive hearing loss. Finally, we will present potential solutions to these barriers and how to help families achieve intervention by 6 months of age.
- The learner will be able to identify potential challenges of conductive hearing loss diagnosis for infant population.
- The learner will be able to identify potential barriers to achieving the 1-3-6 goals with infants who are diagnosed with conductive hearing loss.
- The learner will be able to identify potential solutions to these barriers and how to help families achieve intervention by 6 months of age.
Presentation:
3545975_18258JessicaStich-Hennen.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Jessica Stich-Hennen
(Primary Presenter), St. Luke's Idaho Elks Hearing & Balance Center -Boise , stichhej@slhs.org;
Jessica Stich-Hennen, AuD, PASC, earned her doctorate in audiology from Idaho State University and her bachelor's degree in business administration from North Dakota State University. In 2011, Dr. Stich-Hennen earned Specialty Certification in Pediatric Audiology (PASC) from the American Board of Audiology. Dr. Stich-Hennen specializes in pediatric diagnostics and amplification, auditory osseointegrated implants (i.e. BAHA), Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) evaluations, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) evaluations. Dr. Stich-Hennen works as the primary audiologist for the Idaho Cleft Palate and Craniofacial team. She has served on Idaho Hands & Voices (IDHV) Board, Idaho’s Early Hearing Detection Intervention (EHDI) Advisory Committee and several committees and executive board for the Idaho Speech Hearing Association (ISHA). Dr. Stich-Hennen has given numerous regional and national professional presentations on various topics in pediatric audiology and co-authored a chapter in the EHDI e-book titled “Risk Monitoring for Delayed-Onset Hearing Loss.”
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with St Lukes Idaho Elks Hearing & Balance.
Nature: Employment .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Gabriel Bargen
(Co-Presenter), Idaho State University, barggabr@isu.edu;
Gabriel Anne Bargen, Ph.D., is the Interim Dean, College of Health, and Executive Director for the Idaho State University Health Science Center and an Associate Professor of Audiology in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her clinical and research training includes master's degrees in both speech-language pathology and audiology and a PhD in Audiology from the University of Kansas. She has taught several graduate courses including pediatric audiology and advance aural rehabilitation. Professional interests include pediatric audiology specifically diagnostic hearing assessment and treatment and assessing risks associated with hearing dysfunction in infants. Dr. Bargen’s current research focuses on evaluating risk indicators for delayed-onset hearing loss and finding ways to make resources accessible to all children who are hard of hearing or deaf in Idaho by connecting community entities across the state. Dr. Bargen is on the Idaho Sound Beginnings (EHDI) Advisory Board, she serves on ASHA's Committee of Ambassadors as Idaho's audiology representative, and is on the American Journal of Audiology Editorial Review Board and the SIG 9 Editorial Review Board.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary,Grants for Employment,Membership on advisory committee or review panels from Idaho State University.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(advisory board)
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Idaho State University.
Nature: grant funding for research
salary from Idaho State University
board member on Idaho Sound Beginnings Advisory Board.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.